Comment from Editor

In “It’s Lonely Here in Hell” Love Letters from Nam, Charity Maness has masterfully met the challenge of presenting PFC James Piper's letters from Vietnam and his all-too-early death into a book resonant with his character and truthful to all time.

Chronologically juxtaposing the personal and tender letters nineteen-year-old Jim wrote to his young bride, Micki, with the public facts of the war on each of those same dates, Maness artfully lets the materials speak for themselves. And they do--powerfully. You won't be able to put it down.

Michelle Piper's courageous move to entrust these letters to Charity Maness' care is abundantly rewarded. The author has created a heartfelt and insightful tribute to Jim Piper, the hopeful and loving young husband, and the resolute soldier he must become. What an achievement!

Judy Hewett, MFA, Professor of English

Received my first edited proof back!

Recently I send out five proofs to editors and critiquers. I have been on pins and needles since. SO nervous.
I received my first edited copy back the other day and suprisingly very few corrections!! Yipee!!!
But the best news? The proof received rave reveiws and kudos. This from a person I respect and admire greatly, oh, and an English Professor:)

As soon as the rest of the edited versions come back I will be able to pin down a pre-release book signing date.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement!!!

Look what I found in my archives...interview with Citizen Voice & Times, Estill County Kentucky circa '09

Amazing feedback for "It's Lonely Here in Hell"

"Powerful, important, and very well conceived."

Proof four off to editors

My fourth proof, yes I make that many changes, of "It's Lonely Here in Hell" Love Letters from Nam, is off in the mail to the selected editors and critiquers:)
I am so nervous, I can't wait for their feedback.

Back cover of "It's Lonely Here in Hell" Love Letters from Nam

April 9 , 1967, in a letter from Jim Piper to his young bride Michelle, he writes, "I thank God each night for my wife and my life and also enjoy every breath that I take and praise every morning I wake up too. It means another day gone, another day I'm alive, and another day closer to being home with my wife forever."

PFC James Dennis Piper was killed in action two days later, on April 11, 1967 in the jungles of Vietnam.

"It's Lonely Here In Hell" ...progress report

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Jim Piper's family the other weekend and hear their memories and stories. They brought amazing memorabilia such as ; Jim's flag, his medals, letters of condolences from his commanding officer and others as well as the original "we regret to inform you" telegram.
An amazing day with some incredibly strong and resilient people.
The book is in its final stages now, hitting , hopefully, my last proof before it goes off to be critiqued by a few special individuals.
After that..it will go to final printing!!!
WOOHOO!!

Proofs ... proofs...and more proofs!

I have submitted my second proof for editing...

There are still interviews to add, yet the main body; letters and historical content, are complete!

What a journey!!!

Release date

The tentative release date for "It's Lonely Here in Hell" Love Letters from Nam is November 11, 2011...Veterans Day.

Soon there will be an opportunity to sign up for a pre-release copy at a discounted price.

The books price will be $14.99. There will be a limited amount available and the pre-release date has yet to be set...so stay tuned.

Interview with the Calaveras Enterprise

In the spring of 1967, James Piper told his wife he loved her for the last time.

“I thank God each night for my wife and my life and also enjoy every breath that I take and praise every morning I wake up ...” the Army private wrote from Vietnam on April 9, 1967. “It means another day gone, another day I’m alive, and another day closer to being home with my wife forever.”

Piper never made it home to his young wife, Micki. He died from small-arms fire just two days after writing that letter. The couple, who married June 18, 1966, planned to vacation in Hawaii and try to start a family when he was scheduled to return home to San Lorenzo later that summer.

On April 4, 2011, Copperopolis resident Micki Phillips took the letters out of storage, deciding it was time to share her late husband’s story and the stories of other Vietnam veterans.

“I picked that letter up – first two words into it and I already knew which one it was,” she said, even though she hadn’t seen it in nearly half a century.

Phillips, who co-owns Micki and Larry’s Sports Pub in Copperopolis, decided friend and author Charity Maness was the perfect person to pen the story.

Without reading any more, Phillips handed the letters over to her friend.

“They were so musty and old, I felt like I was holding history,” Maness said.


READ MORE

More Reading....

I figure I have digested about 400 pages of information that our government has kept "secret" for 44+ years...and believe it or not, I am not bored in the least. Though it has created an extremely long list of questions that will most likely be left unanswered I am still plowing through.


My hope in writing this book is that people will walk away from reading it with the realization that Vietnam Veterans are NOT simply a statistic, they are real people with real fears, hopes, dreams, and a memory of a time the world should never forget.

To all you veterans out there...THANK YOU!!!!!

Pentagon Papers - hmmm

So interesting ...

Its official, I really enjoy the research aspect of writing.
History unfolding right before my eyes.